Sprinkles Ice Cream

Posted in Explore, Treats by C.

1-2013-05-04 13.53.45

Location: 9631 South Santa Monica Boulevard, Beverly Hills

It’s the battle of the ice cream gods and I, for one, love some healthy competition! Not too long ago, I made the small trek over to the 90210 to check out the Ice Cream Lab, the newest addition to the South Santa Monica Boulevard family. This futuristic inspired ice cream parlor had the ~~balls~~ courage to open its doors down the street from the famed Sprinkles Cupcakes empire, that also opened a counterpart ice cream shop next door last spring. What better excuse to add a little ice cream to my beloved Sprinkles cupcake this time around to compare and contrast who does it best when it comes to a proper brain freeze? (The things I do in the name of blogging!)

Hands down, Sprinkles Ice Cream blows the Ice Cream Lab out of the water!

1-2013-05-04 13.45.10

1-2013-05-04 13.50.18

While the Ice Cream Lab relies on the unique power to instantly create your frozen treat using liquid nitrogen machines right in front of you; ultimately, it’s the limitations in their menu that weaken their panache for me. Sprinkles does what I think always works best: keep it simple, and keep it customizable. Not only do you have a large selection of ice cream flavors to choose from, your frosty delicacy is served in a myriad of ways: in a red velvet waffle cone, as a sundae, between cupcake tops or cookies for a sandwich, or just keep it basic and in a cup with toppings galore. Bonus points in my book for the option to also create a milkshake, malt, or even a float if the mood strikes you. The fun with Sprinkles Ice Cream is that the options are endless.

1-2013-05-04 13.45.24

On this particular Saturday afternoon visit, I stopped into the two-tone red and white parlor and indulged in a Sprinkles sundae (first pictured above for your viewing pleasure). It’s a scoop of ice cream with one cupcake of your choice. I had to go with their famous red velvet cupcake and the vanilla bean ice cream. The taste and texture of the slow churned ice cream with the moist fluffy cake covered with thick frosting was pure heaven (and yes, I was on a sugar high for the next three hours).

Admittedly, it’s a pricey treat, but one that I am a-okay to give in to occasionally. It’s no secret that I am a fan of Sprinkles cupcakes and when paired together with their fresh gourmet ice cream…there are no words. Summer is in 3 days gang – and I plan to spend a few of them with a quick stop here ~~after hitting the gym twice a day, of course!~~ (yeah right). Hope to see you there! xx

1-2013-05-04 13.50.26

14Jun2013

Sharing the Love

Posted in Blogs by C.

I have been so touched by many of your positive comments on my post last week where I essentially got real about the rewards and challenges of this awesome thing we call blogging. It was encouraging to hear that it was a source of inspiration for many of you.

As promised, I’ve decided to forego my usual “Highlights” post on this happy Friday to dedicate some space to pure link love. Interestingly (and most appropriately), if I were to write a Highlights post today, it would look much like what you’re reading right now anyway. I spent most of my free time this week networking with other bloggers and checking out all of your submitted sites to be included in today’s post.

One thing I was extremely excited about was live chatting with other lifestyle bloggers on Twitter last Sunday morning, where people from all over the world came together to unite over their passion, bounce their ideas around, and meet other blogger nerds. If you ever feel like joining us, the Lbloggers (lifestyle bloggers) Chat is every Sunday 11:00am-12:00pm Pacific Standard Time. Be sure to use hashtag: #lbloggers.

Thanks for stopping by, commenting, and sharing your links with me. Everyone who wanted to be featured in today’s post is noted below in the order they came in.

My hope is that you’ll all check each other out and continue to spread the love.

Please keep in touch and have a magical weekend! xx

K Clueless| kclueless.com

Cake & Couture| cakeandcouture.com

Walk of Fashion| walkoffashion.com

Clark Gent| clarkgent.com

Cara’s Cliché| carascliche.com

Lipsticks and Lashes| lipsticksandlashes.blogspot.co.uk

Tape Parade| tapeparade.wordpress.com

Becca’s Fashion and Life| beccasfashionandlife.co.uk

Happy Dancing Alone| happydancingalone.com

Mr. Joiee| mrjoiee.com

While these peeps didn’t leave links necessarily, I still wanted to give a shout out to Tonya over at Budget and the Beach and Drew at MAiJiNTHEARTIST for always being super supportive of All That Glitters! 🙂

12Jun2013

|| What I’m Lovin’ Right Now ||

Posted in Beauty, Fashion, Food, Home Decor, Inspiration, Life by C.

Blend

This quote from Lao Tzu speaks to me because I am the first person to admit that I have a hard time being present. The good news is that I’m very aware of this complication in my personality, the bad news is that I still struggle with it…often. My mind frequently wanders throughout the day to the next thing. It’s always about what I have to do next, where I have to go next, and when I have to get it done by. The trouble is, this usually happens while I’m dead in the middle of doing something that should already require my full attention.

Essentially, I’m almost always in a state of forward thinking, forward planning; forgetting to just stop, breathe and just enjoy what is. The important part to note is that during all this forward thinking, day-dreaming, and yes, even backwards reflection (but that’s another post for another time) – is I’ve somehow trained myself not only to not be 100% in the moment a large chunk of the time, but that I can somehow continue this train of thought AND get whatever needs my immediate attention in the present done in a manner that still suits my perfectionism. I call this unique ability “multitasking.” You might call it, crazy.

Needless to say, I realize there are times that I am missing out on the simple joys in life because my thoughts are elsewhere. Don’t get me wrong, I’m much better at this than I used to be. Yoga has been a great outlet for me (but I admit that have been known to mentally make my Trader Joe’s grocery list while in downward dog). Getting older (and ideally wiser) has helped. Blogging is one of things that forces me to be present (though you’d still be amazed at what I can do at the same time I’m writing). And I think I’ve picked up some of my boyfriend’s completely relaxed energy (where he annoyingly has absolutely no problem being totally and completely present almost all of the time – while I’m still festering over something that happened 2 days ago :)).

So this little gem of a quote I stumbled across this week was a concept that instantly hit home for me and I’m sure many of you. We live in a time where GO, GO, GO – DO, DO, DO – BE, BE, BE inundates us from the time we wake up forcing us to always be thinking ahead – because if you don’t, you’re not in the game, right? I’m not so sure about this anymore.

As with everything in life, there is a journey. Perhaps mastering this is part of mine.

What’s yours?

I hope you’re lovin’ this quote as much as I am and it gets you to think about your own journey… and making sure you’re present enough to enjoy every single step.

love & light,

Candice

here’s what i’m lovin’ right now

|| Tbags Los Angeles’s Layers Mini Dress from Shopbop.||

||Light and airy bathrooms with stand-alone tubs. Insert me with a book here like ASAP.||

|| Alternating nail polish. The perfect solution when you can’t decide between two colors! ||

||Sweet Potato Veggies Burgers with Avocado. // Recipe here.||

||The perfect office space.||

47791ad6e8f10cd9c7595097e4d2457c || The NEW “happily ever after.” ||

||Spice racks as office supply storage. Genius.||

||The video causing an internet sensation. Ladies, it’s time to Lean In.||

*click photos for image sources.

10Jun2013

Mixtape Monday

Posted in Music by C.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – Monday’s are not my favorite. In fact, I quite dislike them for the first few hours of the day when transitioning back into the routine of the work week, but realize nonetheless that gratitude (oh say, for employment) should be the foremost emotion. Since these days are equally inevitable and important regardless of my slight disdain, nothing cures the Monday morning blues like good tunes (and an iced latte in hand) to start the day.

This past weekend, my iPod did me the absolute delight of shuffling to a song that I used to play incessantly, but hadn’t heard in quite some time. I instantly got excited, played it on loop at least 5 times more, and then got to thinking about Mondays and music – and wanted to spread the love.

There are those songs that you hear that you never get tired of and can listen to all day long with the same excitement as if it were the first time you heard it. I’ve curated a short playlist of some of those songs that give me that feeling every. single. time. Some of you that follow my mixtapes might have heard a few of these before.

So log in to your Spotify account, hit play, sit back and relax, or get to work on those emails with this mix in the background perfect for vibin’ out on this beautiful Monday.

And please, feel free to leave me a comment on that one song that every time you hear it, it’s like hearing it for the first time.

I’ve got my music, so I’m off to my favorite spot to grab that iced latte. Cheers to a great week!

Enjoy! xx

If you like what you’re hearing, please feel free to subscribe to this playlist here:

All That Glitters Mixtape Monday – 06.10.2013

7Jun2013

Highlights

Posted in Life by C.

I started All That Glitters 10 months ago this week, as a way to express myself creatively, to share what I love, to find the beauty in everything, to simply celebrate life.

It has been such a great learning experience and totally fulfilling. At the same time it’s been equally time-consuming and challenging. Since I love a challenge, I suppose I wouldn’t have it any other way.

For the first 6 months of All That Glitters, I wrote it in secret; focusing purely on building content, finding my voice, ensuring that I had the drive to be consistent with my readers, experimenting with the aesthetics of the site, and seeing if I had what it takes among the millions of blogs out there. It wasn’t until February of this year that I officially introduced my blog to everyone I knew, the day I started my What I’m Lovin’ Right Now series.

I’m sure many bloggers can identify that the hardest part of blogging is not in the development, the writing (though writer’s block is a bitch, excuse my French), and while finding the time can be tricky; it’s the promotion that can be the most challenging – getting your blog out there and making it stand out.

Looking back, there were many reasons that I chose to take on this passion project of mine, but keep it to myself. It was something to pour all this built up creative energy into. While I was at least lucky enough to have viewers and followers since its inception, I essentially lost out on 6 months of building a solid blogging community because of the approach I took by sharing it publicly, but not actively putting it out there. Somehow, I kept telling myself that I wanted it to be perfect before I took the plunge and then my perfectionist disposition realized that there would always be room for improvement, SO JUST GO FOR IT.

And thus begins the promotion aspect of my site and connecting with other blogger nerds like myself. I promise not to be too obnoxious. 🙂

This week I spent countless hours playing catch-up by networking with other bloggers, setting up my social media sites, and finally registering a domain name.

All That Glitters can now officially be found on:

Website: allthatglittersla.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LAGlitterGirl

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllThatGlittersLA

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/candiantoinette/

If you’re a blogger, please connect with me on any of these networks and share your site’s links. Next week, I’d like to dedicate a post to pure link love where I’ll post as many sites to other blogs as I can to spread the good cheer! (Because promotion is a bitch – please excuse my French, again).

Thank you so much for your likes, comments, follows, and support. Keep in touch!

love & light,

Candice

6Jun2013

Greystone Mansion: Murder, Mystery, and Movies

Posted in Explore by C.

IMG_20130511_130554_610

Where: Greystone Mansion

Location: 905 Loma Vista Drive, Beverly Hills

Greystone Mansion sits on 16 spectacular acres of LA land just above the Sunset Strip in Beverly Hills. On a sunny Saturday afternoon, I went for a visit to the grounds to take in the solid architecture, the exquisite landscaping, and to think about what life might be like coming home to a mansion every night. It wasn’t until later I learned, that just like in the movies, everything that seemingly looks put together on the outside, is not so much when you take a closer peak.

IMG_20130511_131406_182

What once was a private residence in the Doheny family dynasty is now infamously known as the scene of a murder-suicide crime with a mysterious twist that to this day is still not fully resolved.

Anyone who drives through the palm tree-lined streets of Beverly Hills and West Hollywood knows Doheny Drive, named after LA oil tycoon, Edward L. Doheny. In 1928, he gifted Greystone mansion to his son, Ned and his family. After an altercation between Ned and his then assistant – both men were found dead. The exact details of what happened aren’t clear. Sources say that his assistant, Hugh Plunket, killed Ned Doheny in a rage over salary; while others highlight that Ned Doheny’s gun was the murder weapon and he committed murder-suicide.

Only in Hollywood would the 55 room mansion and its 46,000 square feet, despite its dramatic history, become one of the most filmed locations in the film and television industry. How ironic that the real life mystery became home to so many fictional Hollywood ones? Today, the City of Beverly Hills owns and operates the grounds as a park open to the public.

Greystone not only hosts film and television projects, but weddings, concerts, car shows, charity events, and festivals. While the inside of the mansion is off-limits to the public, just taking a moment to see the estate is truly something special. The elegant gardens and property offer a great (and free) escape from the hustle and bustle just on the other side of the Strip. Stop by and check it out if you ever find yourself nearby… and become apart of the mystery.

IMG_20130511_125217_914

IMG_20130511_125112_361

IMG_20130511_125008_464

IMG_20130511_125343_223

IMG_20130511_131251_530

5Jun2013

|| What I’m Lovin’ Right Now ||

Posted in Accessories, Beauty, Fashion, Food, Handbags, Inspiration, Travel by C.

“Two things define you. Your patience when you have nothing, and your attitude when you have everything.” – unknown

On a rather ordinary day when I was desperately trying to get something done but not seeing the results that I wanted, this quote popped up in my Facebook news feed…at just the right time. I instantly took a deep breath and told myself to just “keep going, keep trying, have patience.” I think what is often disappointing when trying to build anything is when you feel like you’re making this great big effort, but not seeing it actualized as quickly as you would like. It’s especially frustrating when you see others already in the realm of the type of success you’re after, and then it spirals downhill from there. So today, I thought I would share these 17 words from an unknown source, but words that recently made all the difference in my day.

Since I know I can’t be alone in this: be patient, if you too, are struggling with anything today. Just keep going and do the best you can. Since persistence and patience are usually the factors that ultimately drive you to success, it’s only a matter of time. And when you do get there and have everything you’ve ever wanted – be mindful – your attitude defines you as much as your patience once did.

love & light,

Candice

here’s what i’m lovin’ right now

|| Nikki Montoya Jewelry // Mayan Necklace.||

||Cupshakes = Cupcakes Blended with a Milkshake.||

|| Madewell’s Transport Tote in English Saddle.||

||Infinity scarves with shorts.||

||Alternate uses for your muffin pan // Lemon infused ice cubes (great for summer) & Pancake bites.||

1-Desktop

|| Makeup.com’s How to Cover Up Acne Scars.||

||I’ll see you someday soon, Paris.||

*click photos for image sources.

4Jun2013

Center Stage: The Blazer

Posted in Fashion by C.

Blend

If you asked me not too long ago if I was a believer in the power of a structured blazer; I would’ve likely rolled my eyes, thought you were a bit stuffy and moved on. I suppose it’s because when I heard the word “blazer” in my earlier years, the NYC pin-striped power suit with matching pants would come to mind. Not that there is anything wrong with rocking the power suit (and kudos to you if you have the high-powered job to match), but being that I am and will always be a California girl at heart, I’m a huge fan of looks that are equally polished, trendy, and relaxed (it’s the beach in me).

What I have come to learn as I have gotten older (or perhaps “stuffy” myself – who knows!) is the importance of having the right blazer in your collection. Throw on your classic blazer and a simple jeans and t-shirt ensemble instantly take you to dinner at the newest hot spot, or turn a sweet summer dress into a more crisp look if you need a professional touch. Currently, I have one great black blazer from H&M that I’ve gotten my money’s worth from. While it’s still hanging in there, I have been casually eyeing something new to add to my closet. So, I did a little research.

What I love most about the blazer, is how “un-power suit-ed” they’ve become to give that old stuffy perception a fresher feel. These days, you can play with cut, shape, color, pattern, texture and price point – there’s a little something for everyone.

From Right to Left:

Flowered Blazer // Emma Leopard Flower Print Blazer

Peach Blazer // Peach Rayon Boyfriend Blazer

Black and White Striped Blazer // Savannah Striped Boyfriend Blazer

White Blazer// Silence & Noise Boyfriend Blazer

Navy Blazer // Schoolboy Blazer in Navy

Black and White Print // Isla Monochrome Aztec Print Blazer

Basic Black // Lindsay Ruched Sleeve Blazer

Blue Striped // 19 4T Blazer in Blue Stripe

31May2013

Highlights

Posted in Breakfast, Explore, Film, Fun, Holidays, Life by C.

I’m slowly starting to feel like my old self again. The long holiday weekend was just what I needed to recharge and evaluate what’s been “off.” If you recall, last week I was in the throws of low energy levels, struggling with perpetual exhaustion. I’ve been making some tweaks to my lifestyle lately to help improve things.

First, I decided to return to a consistent vitamin regimen. This is something I was a stickler about for years, but mainly due to cost (I’m a huge fan of New Chapter organic vitamins), I stalled on this because I couldn’t decide if I should stick with what I like or try something new. Since I couldn’t make a focused decision either way, I did nothing (smart huh?). Secondly, I’ve been monitoring my diet more aggressively. I think I’ve gotten a wee bit too lenient with my eating habits and I can feel it (Hot Tamales while at the movies is my weapon of choice). Lastly, I’ve been making a conscious effort to work on getting enough sleep. This is an area that I’ve struggled with over the last year or so. I have no trouble falling asleep, but sleeping soundly throughout the night can be difficult for me sometimes. Luckily, this week has been much better when it came to that.

What also greatly contributed to my rising energy levels was likely that this week was simply fun and I smiled a lot.

I saw Fast 6 opening night at the Arclight in Hollywood with the best audience ever. Everyone was in great spirits, cheering at all the insane action sequences for 2 straight hours. Vin Diesel and the rest of the cast made a surprise appearance at the end of the film just to stop by and say hello. Needless to say, it was a blast!

My boyfriend and I headed over to a small local carnival over the holiday weekend and I found myself on a ferris wheel for the first time in a while. I felt 15 again. I don’t know if you remember the “Thriller” ride (photo reference below) but I went on this ride solo, and immediately realized that I wasn’t 15 anymore. I don’t recall being so dizzy for so long when I rode it as a kid. Ah, aging. 🙂

1-IMG_20130526_195624_910

Aside from Fast 6, I found myself taking in quite a few films this week, all diverse, entertaining, and engaging in their own way. I saw the highly stylized documentary, We Steal Secrets, profiling the rise and fall of Julian Assange and the Wikileaks website scandal; my favorite film of the year (so far) Before Midnight; and Baz Luhrman’s The Great Gatsby which turned out to be more enjoyable than I was expecting (and makes me want to read the book again!).

This weekend, since it was so much fun “being 15” again at the carnival on a Saturday night last week, we’re heading out for a night of miniature golf, and the plan on my end is to keep working on more tweaks to improve my energy.

Have a great weekend!

Highlights from this week:

1-307090_10100209313980009_702236788_n

{Surprise flowers from Ryan.}

1-431141_10100209848109609_259981326_n

{Vanilla French Toast from Blu Jam. Yum.}

1-tavern

{Business lunch at Tavern – very chic.}

1-wpid-img_20130526_193446

{Sitting high on the ferris wheel.}

1-IMG_20130528_185644_510

{A much-need and particularly great yoga class.}

30May2013

Birchbox Review: May

Posted in Beauty by C.

1-IMG_20130525_110212_291

May’s Birchbox arrived during a particularly chaotic week, so it was a welcome moment to myself to open the small cardboard box with the pink embossed logo that I have come to know and love. The one word that comes to mind with many of this month’s selections is “fragrant.” As I experimented with each sample, I was delighted at how wonderfully fragrant each product was in addition to their purpose. Here’s how May shaped up…

1-Candi

1. Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle – I’m a huge leave-in conditioner user and I’ve used the same brand for years. This product was great at detangling wet hair and I’m sure it helped protect against my blow drying and heat usage when testing the sample. It did what it was designed to do, but not in any special way for me personally that left a lasting impression. I’m happy with what I use in this area and at $22 full-sized, I wouldn’t trade my tried and true Infusium 23 for this. At best, this convenient sample-sized detangler will be a great thing take along when I travel.

2. amika Obliphica Nourishing Mask – Since I am African-American, conditioning is a MUST to help hydrate my naturally dry strands. I typically deep condition once a week leaving the product in my hair for at least an hour. amika’s nourishing mask was a welcome change to my normal routine. When reading up about the product, I wanted to know more about “Obliphica.” Essentially, this oil from buckthorn berries is filled with lots of natural vitamins that penetrate the hair follicle repairing it from the inside out. After using the sample, right away I was extremely into the smell of my hair. While I can’t say my hair looked shiny as promoted (this came more from the hair treatment oil noted below) the results were good. Great news for those that are sticklers about ingredients? This mask is free of parabens and sulfates.

3. amika Obliphica Hair Treatment – This hair oil is simply divine smelling. While it can be applied on wet hair, I opted to use it after blow drying and just before flat ironing since it not only contains shine properties, but protects against heat styling. The texture of the product is smooth and light and great at not weighing the hair the down. What was particularly cool is that amika encourages you to mix the oil into other styling products, increasing its versatility and allowing its amazing hydration factor to carry on. Note: you don’t need much, I learned this the hard way!

4. Isaac Mizrahi FABULOUS Eau de Parfum – Of all the perfume samples I’ve received from Birchbox, hands down this is my favorite. At first spritz it is strong, but once the perfume settles into the skin, the fragrance is fun and flirty. Peony, citrus, mandarin, nectarine, musk, sandalwood, vanilla, and tuberose are just a few of the notes found in this long-lasting scent. Simply put, as Isaac Mizrahi did, it’s “FABULOUS” and will be added to my collection.

5. COOLA Classic SPF 30 Cucumber Moisturizer – Again, the first thing I noticed was the light fragrant cucumber smell as I applied Coola’s Classic SPF Moisturizer. The formula is extremely lightweight and refreshing as it easily melts into the skin. I am a big fan of its use of organic ingredients (about 70%) and how soft and hydrated my skin looked. This is a great moisturizer if you’re in the market for something new, but it is pricey.

6. Sumita Color Contrast Eyeliner – I don’t wear eyeliner everyday but when I do, it’s typically brown or black. My first time experimenting with gray came from Sumita and I have to say, I liked it…a lot. The pencil glides on smooth and I found I liked using it most when lining just the bottom lid. It gave my eyes a slight pop without the extra drama that comes when lining the entire eye. My only complaint is that it’s extremely difficult to get a thin line with this pencil, it goes on pretty heavily, likely due to the fact that it is a soft wax and constantly needs to be sharpened to get a pointy tip. While not bad in comparison to other brands, this did smear slightly – something that I am trying to avoid with all eye make-up in general. At best, Sumita has gotten me to think about working with gray eyeliner more.

If you’re a Birchboxer, I’d love to hear your thoughts on your May goodies! Please drop me a line in the comments section.